Business is thriving at the Berkel family farm just east of Delhi.
Apr 29, 2026 • Last updated 2 days ago •
People from all over Ontario have come to Norfolk County to enjoy picking tulips at the Berkelbloem Tulip Festival, located just east of Delhi. Pictured are Jennifer Simmons and Suzanne Mc Millan. The festival, weather permitting, will run until late May. Photo by Jacob Robinson
Business is thriving at the Berkel family farm just east of Delhi.
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After relocating to a farm at 466 Windham Road 12, Drew and Mel Berkel decided to honor their Dutch heritage by planting half a million tulips on an unused section of their land three years ago.
“Berkelbloem” has since turned into a popular spot for both locals and tourists who visit in spring to pick their favorites among one million tulips.
“It’s been huge,” said Mel, now leading a team in their third year of the project. “We were really nervous our first year about not even breaking even because it’s a big investment. We had just bought the farms from our family, so we were starting fresh.”
Since doubling in profit and production from their first year, the couple has also added an on-site cafe, washrooms, a walking trail and brought in food trucks, local vendors, and live music on weekends. The place has become so popular that they’re selling tickets for specific times to prevent overcrowding in the field filled with pick-your-own tulips of various colors.
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Berkel mentioned it’s common to meet visitors from across Ontario – Barrie, Grand Bend, Windsor, for example.
“I knew people in Simcoe in Norfolk would support us because of the strong Dutch community and small town backing small-town initiatives, but I didn’t expect this many,” Mel confessed.
“I had folks tell me last year that this is the best place on earth, and it’s literally my backyard.”
Folks from across Ontario have flocked to Norfolk County to enjoy picking tulips at the Berkelbloem Tulip Festival just east of Delhi. Pictured are Jenna and Ady Atkins of London. The festival will run until late May. Photo by Jacob Robinson
The London duo Kidus Kebede and Keyana Albert visited the farm two years ago and came back this week.
“A friend shared about the tulip farm on social media. I hadn’t heard about such a thing before but thought it was really interesting. You’re supporting local – a family-owned business,” said Kebede, a professional photographer. “I think it makes for a perfect anniversary date or something like that; it’s truly a great idea.” p >
“It’s absolutely beautiful,” Albert added. “You don’t see big tulip fields like this often; there are lots of different colors , and it’s better than buying tulips from the grocery store because you’re supporting local.” p >
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Many visitors have shared similar reviews online.
“Melanie and Drew have created a truly special experience,” said one. “The farm is stunning , with vibrant tulip fields and perfect photo spots. The live band added such a fun atmosphere – it really elevated everything. The farm is also very well maintained , and everything was clean and convenient.”
During weekdays , the farm employs up to seven workers , while that number increases to twenty for weekend demand.
The good news for newcomers is that picking tulips doesn’t require expert skills.
“You don’t need scissors; you pull them straight up out of the ground for nice long stems,” Mel explained. “Any tulip that shows even a hint of color is ready to be picked. The more closed it is , the longer it’ll last once you take it home.”
The field will be open to visitors until May 17 , weather permitting. p >
“We’re running this as a family operation , so we can only handle so much; ideally we’d love to keep growing,” said Mel. “We don’t need massive growth, but we want sustainability while making some income off this venture. We’re set now, I think; we’ll see what happens next, and what people want.” em > strong > b > i > u > s > w >:: // ! ” ## ~ ” “< = @ ^ ` & * | ' : ; ? [ ] { } ( ) " $ % ^ + – " + # _ /*-./!@#$%^&*()?~`”,%$#^!”&’*+{}]|?`~@|` – “+{;}<|@'$%^&*()”;%’+” + ”+””+””+”
“+”” +””+””+”+”&q d=~ H/W ;;&’! ‘ * + &%#’+ ‘/’+ ””+’;”/.’+’#{&+-!?}”‘+’/*-/.&#&/’+’ + ‘”& ‘#$#^+{“! ‘)'”+”‘//”.’/”/”}”‘+'”‘## ‘{}/’$&&$’^}`+”)/>.<type ="text/javascript"$'/';"`.' '. join('!=','//', end = 'n') for more details or purchasing tickets visit berkelbloem. ca.
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